Tag: rats

Hunter!

Thursday, October 10, 2024

My “Little Mitzvah” is fifteen pounds that finally grasped a skill that increases her value to my property. Her cuteness is always a given, but in the barn earlier this week, she used innate skills and caught a tiny mouse.

My barn hasn’t had a resident mouse hunter since my kitty Maxwell began preferring to be an inside cat. I’ve not introduced a new cat to the barn. There are roosters and often dogs around, and I have lacked free time for hanging out with a new cat and ensuring its safety.

Mitzvah is a Jack Russell Terrier mix. She discovered her skill set on catching that mouse and loving every moment. To more of Mitzvah’s credit, she has recognized a distinctive trail that mice use for entering and leaving the chicken coop. She’s been watching that trail intently.

For me, seeing her terrier spirit in action was pleasing enough. Yesterday afternoon, more of her terrier instincts became apparent.

We were in the shop/barn. My part-time job keeps me too busy to be in the shop playing with woodworking. After discovering that pack rats were in the shop, I entered it yesterday to work on clearing rat debris. Mitzvah, sniffing around, suddenly became very excited at a cluttered spot. I removed some of the clutter and out ran a large rat.

Mitzvah was ready, she chased it to another cluttered spot. Her constant sniffing and circling there communicated the rat’s hiding area. I peeked and saw it squeezed between panel boards. I pulled on one panel and the rat ran with Mitzvah hot on its trail.

She caught it, the rat got loose and hid again. We repeated our process. Mitzvah identified the hiding spot and I pulled away protective items. Before long, I saw that my little dog was exiting the shop with a large rat hanging from her mouth. What followed was au natural.

Mitzvah made sure that the rat was dead.

She rolled repeatedly on the lifeless body.

Mitzvah just needed to be in the right spots. She’s now a working dog, knows her job, and it’s a welcome one. Now, she’s even more pleasing company while we’re out and about on the property.

Dear Friends: A once-ornamental pooch’s true, transforming nature. Diana

Remembering “Mable”

Wednesday, April 03, 2024

For me, this is a new one: World Rat Day (happening tomorrow).

Recently, I began following on FB some fancy-rat owners who have trained their pets to “do agility.” They capably photograph and video the cute and appealing creatures, maybe carrying a toy, navigating an agility course, or as a still life.

Why am I interested in following people who keep rats as pets?

In my high school years, I brought home a white rat from the biology classroom to care for over two weeks of Christmas Holidays. I called that fun and affectionate creature “Mable” and quickly grew fond of her, often letting her run freely in my bedroom. She loved finding her way into my chest of drawers and chewed holes in clothing. I don’t remember feeling either relief or sadness on returning Mable to school, but over many years do remember her as a charmer.

Upon retiring to Central Oregon and living beyond the city limits on a small property, I learned about the local wild rats, known as “pack rats.” Named for collecting, or “packing around,” for their nests, various objects, and bits of material. Here’s my thing: pack rats are nuisances like all wild rat varieties, but they look cute and are appealing, with big whiskers, bright eyes, and busy trails. After trapping a pack rat, I take the caged critter to a BLM and release it.

Sometimes, I think about adopting a couple of neutered/spayed fancy rats. The upside is that they’re social, intelligent, low-maintenance, and fun. Also appealing is that rats have a shorter lifespan. On the downside, free time is required for providing companionship and training for pet rats; moreover, they’re primarily nocturnal and, for certain, are great chewers.

Dear Friends: Ahead of World Rat Day, sweet memories and some thoughts. Diana